Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Barysaw Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Barysaw

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $866 in Chiang Mai versus $805 in Barysaw.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,351 in Chiang Mai versus $1,284 in Barysaw.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,835 in Chiang Mai versus $1,763 in Barysaw.

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 8% more expensive than Barysaw, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 35% lower, Barysaw 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$8.99 BYN 25.00

-78.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$31.03 BYN 86.3

-39.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$5.56 BYN 15.46

40.65%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$1.74 BYN 4.83

12.07%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.85 ฿27.77

$0.65 BYN 1.80

30.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.42 BYN 1.16

-16.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$1.20 BYN 3.33

77.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$2.11 BYN 5.88

76.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$0.79 BYN 2.19

116.46%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.58 BYN 1.60

181.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$1.18 BYN 3.29

-3.39%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$1.34 BYN 3.73

44.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$6.46 BYN 17.95

150.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$4.12 BYN 11.44

-24.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$8.04 BYN 22.34

35.57%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$1.17 BYN 3.26

135.04%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$1.76 BYN 4.90

-31.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.79 BYN 4.97

-9.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$2.54 BYN 7.05

-37.40%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$0.43 BYN 1.21

225.58%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$0.61 BYN 1.70

91.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$1.28 BYN 3.55

-48.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.58 BYN 1.62

-8.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$1.87 BYN 5.19

150.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$8.47 BYN 23.54

120.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$1.00 BYN 2.78

80.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.73 BYN 4.81

86.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.30 BYN 0.84

200.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$12.93 BYN 35.94

48.57%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$1.41 BYN 3.92

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$0.30 BYN 0.83

330.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$5.72 BYN 15.90

37.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$0.77 BYN 2.14

64.94%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$20.0K BYN 55.7K

6.16%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$24.0K BYN 66.8K

-7.53%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$69.1 ฿2,256

$55.0 BYN 153

25.67%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$14.08 ฿460

$7.67 BYN 21.32

83.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$10.43 BYN 28.99

72.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$30.22 BYN 84.0

35.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$4.48 BYN 12.44

32.14%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$299 ฿9,766

$302 BYN 839

-0.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$10.3K BYN 28.5K

45.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$50.1 BYN 139

9.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$41.81 BYN 116

-35.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$112 BYN 312

-24.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$98.9 BYN 275

-28.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$239 BYN 665

-0.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$590 BYN 1,640

35.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$458 BYN 1,272

12.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$1,150 BYN 3,196

71.75%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$895 BYN 2,487

64.88%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$708 BYN 1,967

-12.74%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-64.29%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Barysaw: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Barysaw pays 15% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $19.00 in Chiang Mai vs $31.00 in Barysaw. Groceries flip the comparison at $246 vs $164, with Barysaw cheaper for home cooking.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Chiang Mai vs Barysaw: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Barysaw is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 8% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Barysaw earns 15% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

All in, you'll spend $866 per month in Chiang Mai versus $805 in Barysaw – a 8% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Barysaw runs roughly 49% less than in Chiang Mai. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Barysaw gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

For families, Barysaw is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Chiang Mai, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Barysaw are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Barysaw gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.